Archive: People and Markets

A ‘reverse proof’ commemorative issue – this is the coin all 2-euro collectors wanted to have, but even those who paid for it could not get their hands on the coin. Photo: Monnaie de Paris

Monnaie de Paris Faces Criticism from Enthusiastic Collectors

As athletes around the world prepare to deliver top performances at the Olympic Games, the Monnaie de Paris – France’s prestigious mint – has disqualified itself in the eyes of many collectors for unsporting behaviour. What happened?

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Das Vorbild für die Darstellung ist ein Ausschnitt der Darstellung des „fliegenden Menschen“ der Machinae novae von 1595. Foto: © Branimir Kralj / Kroatische Münzstätte.

Faust Vrančić: The Croatian Leonardo

Croatia issues two new collector coins as part of its “Croatian Innovators” series. They are dedicated to Faust Vrančić, a Croatian polymath whose parachute design, published in his 1595 book “Machinae novae”, is the first appearance of this device in a printed work.

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Moderne Gedenkmünzen können als Sammelgebiet viel Freunde bereiten. Aber eine nachhaltige Wertanlage sind sie nicht.

The Difference Between Stamps and Coins: Not as Trivial as You’d Think!

There are times when uninformed people buy anything as long as the object in question might retain its value. Disillusionment strikes when the market situation changes. The realisation that there isn’t a market for every collectible ruined many a collecting field in the past. Ursula Kampmann urges caution.

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At the February 1, 2022, Paris conference: Vincent Noce, far left, Henrik Hanstein, President of the Federation of European Auctioneers (back shown), Alexandre Giquello, President of the Drouot, Professor Marc-André Renold, Christie’s CEO Guillaume Cerruti, IADAA Chairman Vincent Geerling (with microphone) and far right with his back to the camera, Roberto Riccardi, Head of Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.

Defamatory Attack on IADAA And Its Officers – a Response

A French newspaper article claims IADAA chairman Vincent Geerling to be involved in trafficking antiquities. A close look reveals a distortion of facts – or how the journalist and the authorities simply ignored them. With consequences not only for the accused.

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Archive: Coins, Medals and more

The authentic piece from the past: the “Feierstëppler” could be found in circulation in Luxembourg for more than half a century. Photo: Wieschowski

A Coin on a Coin: Luxembourg to Resurrect the “Feierstëppler”

The Grand Duchy honours its past as a centre of the steel industry with a new 2-euro commemorative coin bearing the unwieldy title “100th anniversary of the Grand Ducal decree on the issue of the ‘Feierstëppler’”.

The Turks, the Bohemian Estates and Two Gnadenpfennigs by Ferdinand I

SINCONA’s spring auction will be held from 13 to 15 May 2024. Among other highlights, two extremely rare gold gnadenpfennigs by Ferdinand I are on offer. The multiple coins with a weight of 10 and 15 gold gulden are among the great treasures of Habsburg numismatics. We share their story.
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